Motors



Sept. 25, 1956 Filed July 17,

F IG. /A

A. DIENY 2,764,135

MOTORS 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet l f@ @M4/f F/a/H,

'Spt 25, 1956 Filed July 17. H353 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. DIENY Sept. 25, 1956 MOTORS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 17, 1953 esoA Sept. 25, 1956 A. DIENY 2,764,135

MOTORS Filed July 17, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet L United States Patent O MOTORS Alfred Dieny, Rungis, France, assignor to Societe dite: Tecalemit, Societe Anonyme, Paris, France Application July 17, 1953, Serial No. 368,551

Claims priority, application France August 1, 1952 2 Claims. (Cl. 121-453) This invention relates to motors and particularly to a prime mover of the kind actuated by a fluid under pressure, which is remarkable notably in that it comprises in combination at least two non-parallel cylinders having their pistons reciprocated along rectilinear strokes in succession under the influence of a fluid under pressure acting according to a predetermined cycle on the opposite faces of the pistons, the diiierent phases of this cycle being controlled by a single slide-valve.

This motor is also remarkable through the following `specific features:

When the single slide-valve travels in one direction the driving liuid is switched from one to the opposite side of the piston in the cylinder of which the axis is not parallel to this direction;

As the piston moving in one `of the power cylinders reaches one of its dead centres, it carries along the single slide-valve and the resulting direction of motion of this slide-valve is parallel to the axis of the cylinder in questlon.

Moreover, the invention is concerned more specifically with a motor arrangement according to the features set forth hereabove and comprising two non-parallel cylinders in which corresponding pistons are reciprocated, one piston having the sole purpose of driving the single slidevalve in one direction of motion without supplying any external energy, the other piston having the dual purpose of actuating the single slide-valve and supplying mechanical energy to the outside.

The accompanying drawings forming part of this specication illustrate diagrammatically by way of example a few forms of embodiment of the motor according to this invention. In the drawings:

Figures 1A to 1D are diagrammatic views showing the positions of the essential components of the motor during its cycle of operation.

Figures 1E to 1H are diagrammatic cross sectional views taken on lines 1E, 1F, 1G and 1H respectively in Figs. 1A to 1D.

Figure 2 is a vertical axial sectional View showing one form of embodiment of a motor according to this invention.

Figure 3 is a vertical axial, part-sectional view showing a modified embodiment of the motor, and

Figure 4 is a vertical axial sectional view showing a modification brought to the motor of Fig. 3.

Referring first to the diagram of Fig. l, it will be seen that the motor of this invention operates according to the four-stroke cycle resulting from the different elements of a combination of parts comprising two pistons having their axes disposed at right angles to each other, and a single slide-valve controlling the inlet and exhaust of a uid under pressure to and from one or the other side of the two pistons, ln this motor, the movements of the slide-valve are controlled by the piston movements, one piston being connected freely with the slide-valve so that the latter is driven by the former, in its own direction, whilst the other piston--which is also freely ice connected with the slidevalve-drives the latter in its own direction only when it is about to end its strokes.

In this diagram the component elements of the motor arrangement are shown in the positions which they occupy at each of the four phases (Figures lA*1B-1C-- 1D of the operating cycle.

In this diagram 1 and 2 are the two pistons and 3 the single control slide-valve formed with a central cavity 4 for exhausting the cylinders at the proper time. Therefore, this slide-valve 3 is arranged to open the inlet ports for the fluid under pressure which are located endwise of these cylinders for connecting the cylinder ends with the exhaust, the chamber S being connected with the source of pressure fluid.

To facilitate the understanding of the operation of this motor, the slide-valve 3 is shown in front sectional view and also rotated through on the right-hand side of the front view, to show its free connection with piston 2.

The slide-valve 3 is alternately driven by the pistons 1 and 2 and travels along a cylinder face 6 having various ports formed therein. The port 7 is connected with the atmosphere for venting purpose and is visible on the port face and on the side of piston 2. Ports 8 and 9 are provided for supplying fluid under pressure to the ends of cylinder 10 in which the piston 1 is slidably mounted, a pair of ducts 8a and 9a leading into the corresponding cylinder ends, respectively, as shown. The other ports 11 and 12 are intended to supply fluid under pressure to the relevant ends of cylinder 13 in which the other piston 2 is slidabiy mounted, these cylinder ends being connected through other ducts 11a and 12a with the source of fluid under pressure, respectively.

The slide-valve 3 is mechanically coupled to the piston 1 through a so-called lost-motion arrangement, This piston 1 has a rod 14 formed with an axial bore 15 (see also Fig. 2) receiving the small-sectioned portion 16 of a shank 17 formed with a head 13. At its opposite end this shank 17 is formed with a pair of flanges 19, 19 and between the inner faces of these flanges the slidevalve 3 is retained, as shown, so that each time the piston 1 travels through the last portion of its strokes in either direction the shank 17 attached thereto will carry along this slide-valve 3, as will be made clear presently,

The slide-valve 3 is coupled freely to piston 2 and the latter `is suitably apertured so as to carry along the valve during its reciprocations.

The operation of the motor comprising this combination of parts occurs as follows:

During the first phase of the cycle (see 1A, 1E, Fig. l), as piston 2 completes its downward stroke in the lower part of cylinder 13 the iiuid under pressure iiows through the port 11 of the cylinder face exposed by the slidevalve 3, and also through duct 11a, to the lower part of Cylinder 13, and the opposite end of this cylinder 13 is exhausted through the duct 12a, the port 12 of cylinder face 6, the cavity 4 of the slide-valve and the port 3 of the cylinder face 6. Thus, the fluid under pressure, through the port 8 in the cylinder face 6 and duct 8a, will move the piston 1 to the right; however, this piston 1 will first effect a lost motion until it abuts against the shoulder formed at the lower end of shank 17 and at the upper end of the narrower portion 16 thereof, and subsequently the piston 1 will move the slide-valve 3 to the right (Fig. 1A) until it exposes the port 11, thereby permitting the fluid under pressure, through the duct 11a, to push the lower face of piston 2; during this movement the slide-valve 3 has connected the upper end of cylinder 13 with the exhaust through duct 12a, port 12 of cylinder face 6, slide-valve cavity 4 and port 7 of cylinder face 6.

During the second phase of this cycle (see 1B, 1F, Fig. l) as the slide-valve was not driven to the left the piston 1 remained in the same position as during phase I, thereby keeping the slide-valve in its rightmost position. The uid under pressure, acting against the lower face of piston 2 through port 11 of face 6 and duct 11a, will move this piston 2 upwards and therefore the latter will also `carry along the slide-valve 3 in the same direction to expose `the port 9 in the cylinder face 6 and enable the fluid under pressure to enter cylinder on the righthand side of piston 1; at the same time, this slide-valve 3 has connected the left-hand side of cylinder 10, through the duct 8a, port 8 of face 6, cavity 4 of slide-valve 3 and port 7 of face 6, to the exhaust.

Therefore, the fluid under pressure may act on the right-hand side of piston 1 While the lower face of piston 2 remains under the influence of the uid under pressure through duct 11a and port 1 of cylinder face 6, this port remaining exposed by the slide-valve 3. It may be pointed out that as long as the ports formed in the cylinder face 6 are left exposed by the slide-valve 3, they will remain in permanent fluid connection with the pressure chamber 5.

When the third phase (see 1C, 1G, Fig. 1) takes place, the piston 2 is held in the same position as phase II, but the slide-valve 3 previously moved to the left (but not in the downward direction) has connected the lower portion of cylinder 13 to the exhaust through the port 7 in face 6, the cavity 4 of slide-Valve 3, the port 11 of face 6 and duct 11a, and at the same time this slide-valve 3 has exposed the port 12 of face 6, so that the iluid under pressure may act through the duct 12a against the upper face of piston 2.

The fluid under pressure, flowing through the port 9 in face 6 and duct 9a, has driven the piston 1 in the rightto-left direction; the piston 1 has lirst performed a free stroke, that is, Without carrying along the slide-valve 3, except during the last portion of this stroke, as the piston engages the head 18 forming the end portion of the thin portion 16 of the coupling shank 17.

During the last phase (see 1D, 1H, Fig. l), piston 1 remains in the position to which it was moved in phase III, but the slide-valve 3, previously moved in the downward direction (Without moving inthe left-to-right direction) has connected the right-hand end of cylinder 10 through the port 9 in face 6, the cavity 4 of the slide valve and the duct 9a with the exhaust; at the same time, this slide-valve 3 has exposed the port 8 in the cylinder face 6, so that the fluid under pressure may now act through the duct 8a against the left-hand face of piston 1; thus, the latter will first move through the lost-motion portion of its travel and will subsequently carry along the slidevalve 3, but only after engaging the shoulder thereof, formed between the thin portion 16 and the larger portion of the coupling shank l17.

Now the fluid under pressure will act through port 8 and duet 8a on the left-hand side of piston 1 and push the latter to the right through the lost-motion portion of its stroke; at the end of this portion the piston 1 will carry along, in the same direction, the slide-valve 3, and as will be seen from the drawing all the elements of the combination will resume the positions they had at the beginning of the first phase of the cycle.

In Fig. 2 a practical embodiment of the motor according to this invention is shown, wherein one of the pistons of the combination is utilized for actuating an external apparatus of any desired or suitable type, for example a lift-and-force pump.

In this specific embodiment, both pistons 1 and 2 are disposed at right angles to each other, as in the diagram of Fig. 1.

The larger piston 1 is constantly coupled with the slidevalve 3 through a lost-motion coupling device, so that it will drive this valve only during the last portion of its stroke in either direction; the other piston 2, still in accordance with the explanatory diagram of Fig. 1, has formed therein an aperture receiving freely the control slide-valve 3 so as to drive it in the same direction.

This mechanical embodiment of the principles of the invention is remarkable notably in that all the parts comprised in the combination and constituting the motor proper are enclosed in a bell-shaped casing in which they are retained by means of a single nut. Thus, by merely lifting and removing this bell-shaped casing, access may be gained to all its component parts.

This mechanical embodiment is also remarkable in that all the sealing joints required therein are constituted by rings of plastic material having a toroidal cross-section.

The piston 1 is intended to actuate some external mechanism and adapted to be reciprocated vertically in a cylinder lining 20; a cylindrical body 21 tits on the top of the cylinder lining 20 and a toroidal-sectioned joint 22 positioned in an annular groove 23 formed in the lower end of the cylindrical body 21 provides a uid-tight seal therebetween.

At its opposite end this body 21 is formed with a transverse bore 24 in which the other piston 2 is adapted to be reciprocated. This bore 24 is closed in fluid-tight fashion at either end by a pair of plugs 21a acting at the same time as positioning stops.

The mechanical connection of piston 1, transmitting to the outside the force delivered by the uid under pressure, with the slide-valve 3 is of the lost-motion type, as already illustrated in the diagram of Fig. 1. This mechanical assembly also comprises: the two shoulders 19, 19 having positioned therebetween the lower and upper faces of the slide-valve 3, and the shank 17 with its thinner rod portion 16 terminating with a head 18. The rod 14 of piston 1 is formed with an axial bore 15 to enable this piston 1 to move freely in either direction during the lost-motion portion of its strokes, as already explained with reference to the diagram of Fig. l.

The piston 1 is mounted on its shank 14, intended to transmit the driving force to the outside, through a central ring 25 formed with an upper flange 26 and internally screw-threaded so as to receive the upper end of this shank 14 after having positioned a locking nut 27 thereon. The thickness of piston 1 is slightly smaller than the distance between the flange 26 and the locking nut 27. The liange of the central ring 25 has formed l therein an axial bore to permit the free passage of the plug 29 formed with an annular projection 30 extending upward and also an axial screw-threaded bore 31 for receiving a pipe tting (not shown) connected on the other hand with a source of fluid under pressure. .The necessary fluid-tightness between the inner wall of the tubular extension 28 and the plug 29 is obtained by means of a toroidal-sectioned ring 32 ot' plastic material.

A strainer 33 is provided at the pressure fluid inlet ofv the motor; this strainer is clamped between the bottom of the plug 29 and an annular shoulder 34 of the cylindrical body 21.

The cylindrical body 21 is formed with an axial aperture for allowing therethrough the upper portion of the coupling between the piston 1 and the slide-valve 3, that is, the shank 17 with its shoulders 19, 19 disposed on the lower and upper faces of this slide-valve 3.

This bore is formed as follows: at its lower portion a large-diameter bore 35 is followed by a smaller bore 36 extending to the upper shoulder 34 with an internal shoulder 37 positioned below the transverse bore 24.

In the lower portion of the bore portion 36 there is mounted through the medium of a sealing ring 38 also of toroidal section a cylindrical member 39 abutting against the inner shoulder 37 and formed with an axial hole for allowing the shank 17 therethrough.

A free annular space 41 is provided in this member 39 for receiving a return spring 42 bearing with one end against the bottom of the aforesaid annular space 41 and, with its other end, against the lower shoulder 19 of the shank 17; the member 39 is formed with a central tubular extension engaging the shoulder 19, as will be seen from the drawing. This spring 42 is intended to regulate the operation of the device, in spite of differences in pressure which, under certain conditions, may arise between the upper pressure chamber and the upper portion of the cylinder lining 20.

The purpose of this spring 42 is to normally urge the cylindrical slide-valve 3 to its upper position in which, as will be inferred from phase II of Fig. 1, it exposed the port 9 of the cylinder face 6 in order to allow the fluid under pressure to act against the right-hand face of piston 1 through the duct 9.a.

In this construction the pressure acting against the upper face of piston 1 is directed through the port 9 and duct 9a, the latter leading into a groove 9b formed in the cylindrical body 21 which communicates with the upper portion of the cylinder lining 20 through vertical holes 9c provided in a ring member 9d held in position within the lower portion of the cylindrical body 21 by means of a circlips 9e.

While it permitted the fluid under pressure to act against the upper face of piston 1, the slide-valve con nected the lower face (on the left-hand side in the diagram) with the exhaust. In the mechanical embodiment of Fig. 2, the duct 8a, leads into a free annular space 8b to be mentioned presently; this space 3b is connected with the lower end of the cylindrical lining 20 through passages $0 provided in a second cylindrical body 43 mounted on the lower end of this lining 20.

This lower cylindrical body 43 is formed at its upper portion with a cavity of greater dimensions than those of the aforesaid locking nut 27 by which the piston 1 is attached to the shank 14. An axial bore 45 is provided centrally of this body for allowing and guiding the shank 14 of piston 1 therethrough. A tubular central extension 46 projects from the lower face of the body 43 and is adequately threaded to receive a cylindrical sleeve member 47 having its upper external surface threaded correspondingly; the upper inner surface of this sleeve member receives a gland packing 48 to complete the fluid-tightness of the assembly.

The combination of parts just described is enclosed completely by a bell-shaped casing 49 the upper, capshaped portion S9 of which is formed with apertures 51 connected directly with the surrounding atmosphere.

The free annular space 8b, mentioned hereinabove, is positioned between the outer side wall of the cylinder lining 20 and the inner side wall of the bellshaped casing 49.

All the parts constituting the apparatus so far described are fastened to each other through a single nut 52 engaging the externally screw-threaded lower edge of the bell-shaped casing 49.

In comparison with the diagram of Fig. l, the reference numerals and letters concerning the port 11, duct 11a leading into the left-hand side of cylinder 24 and port 12, as well as the duct 12a leading into the righthand side of cylinder 24, are also reproduced in Fig. 2.

The cycle of operation of the apparatus occurs in four phases, in exactly the same manner as already explained with reference to Fig. l.

Fig. 3 shows a modified embodiment of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2, in which the shank 17, with the slidevalve 3 positioned between its shoulders 19, 19 is formed with an upward extension `so that in no case the pressure of the driving lluid may exert any action thereagainst.

The top of this shank 17 is a slide lit in the bore 54 formed in a sleeve member SS; a toroidal-sectioned pac-king ring 56 is provided between this sleeve member 55 and the upper portion of the cylindrical body; besides, the upper end of the bore 54 cornrnunicatees directly With the outer atmosphere.

in this Figure 3 the pressure fluid inlet is positioned at the bottom of the bell-shaped casing 49.

For this purpose, a cylindrical member is formed with an inlet aperture 58 connected with an annular space 59 provided between the inner side surface of the bell-shaped casing 49 and the external side surface of a sleeve or lining 60 disposed concentrically between this bellshaped casing 49 and the cylinder lining 20 in which the piston l is reciprocated.

An annular space 61 is also provided between the inner side surface of the sleeve member 60 and the outer side surface of the cylinder lining 2i) to enable the fluid under pressure to act at the proper time, under the control action of the slide-valve 3, against the lower face lof piston 1.

As in the form of embodiment of Fig. 2, all the plastic packing rings employed in this apparatus have a toroidal cross-section.

In this Fig. 3 the reference numerals 2, 6 and 7 designate similarly the piston reciprocated in the transverse bore, the cylinder face having formed therein the ports exposed and occluded in succession by the slide-valve, and the exhaust port 7, respectively.

The cycle of operation of the motor according to the modified embodiment shown in Fig. 3 is the :same as that described with reference to the diagram of Fig. 2. All the elements of the combination illustrated are also held in their assembled condition by means of a single nut 52.

As it will be sufiicient to release the nut 52 for having access to all the parts of the combination described hereinabove, there is shown at 62 a device whereby the apparatus can be sealed so that the inside of the motor cannot be tampered with unless the seal 62 is broken.

Of course, without departing from the spirit and scope `of the invention it is also possible to couple each piston with the lost-motion device 4so that both pistons may be used as external driving means.

It has been noted that in apparatus constructed in accordance with the form of embodiment of Fig. 3 a faulty operation `occurred sometimes when the vacuum increased within the cylinder lining 20, above the power piston 1. Experience taught that this faulty operation did not occur anymore if instead of leaving the top face of the shank 17 exposed to the atmospheric pressure the top of the bore 54 in which the upper end of the shank 17 is caused to slide were sealed, and if the top of this bore 54 were connected through a suitable duct with the inlet duct 9a for the fluid under pressure; thus, the upper and lower faces of this cylindrical shank are both exposed to the saine pressure.

In Fig. 4, the cylindrical body 21 is formed with a lateral aperture 63, suitably closed by a tting 64 for connecting a pressuredluid inlet pipe (not shown), a suitable aperture 65 being provided for this purpose through the wall of the bell-sh aped casing 49.

n The cylindrical body 21 has formed therein, on either side of the chamber 63, an axial hole having fitted therein lower and upper sockets 66, 67 formed with identical axial bores 68, 69.

i In this forni of embodiment the single `slide-valve 3 is also retained between two shoulders 19, 19 formed in the shank 17.

The bore 69 is isolated from the atmospheric pressure by 'means of a cap member 7i) enclosing the top of the cylindrical body 21 and a toroidal-sectioned packing ring 71 provides the necessary fluid-tightness.

According to the novel arrangement shown in Fig. 4, the upper end of the bore 69 in the socket 67 is connected with the pressure fluid inlet duct 9a (shown in dotted lines) and the inside of the cylinder lining 20 1n which the piston 1 is reciprocated; this connection is obtained by the provision of a duct 72 of which one portion only is visible in section in the iigure; this duct 72 emerges into a free space 73 provided between the upper face of the cylindrical body 21 and the cap member 70, notches 74 being formed in the upper portion of the socket member 67 the top face of which carries the cap 7 70 so that said free space 73 will communicate with the bore 69. n

With this arrangement (including the pair of socket members 66 and 67) the cylindrical shank 17 will be guided perfectly and the desired balance is obtained since both lower and upper faces 17a and 17h thereof are subjected to the same pressure.

Toroidal-sectioned plastic ring packings are provided wherever necessary and the cycle of yoperation is the same, the single slide-valve travelling in front of a cylinder face 6 to eiect its control movements.

As in the case of Fig. 2, the fluid under pressure acts against the lower face of the power piston 1 through the duct 8d and the annular space Sb situated between the cylinder lining 20 and the bell-shaped casing 49.

While the above description and the accompanying drawings refer only to a few forms of embodiment of the invention, it will be readily understood by anybody conversant with the art that many modification and alterations may be brought thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A motor actuated by a uid under pressure, comprising a cylinder having two ends, a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder, a piston-rod rigidly mounted on said piston coaxially to said cylinder and having an operative end projecting from one end of said cylinder and being provided with an axial bore on the piston end, said axial bore being blind at one end and constricted at the other end to form a shoulder, partitions extending from the other end of said cylinder and forming a casing the inner volume of which is divided into two cylindrical cavities having a common axis intersecting at right angles the cylinder axis, said cylindrical cavities being disposed symmetrically on either side of the axis of said first cylinder, a pair of piston-heads each slidably mounted in one of said cylindrical cavities, a spindle rigidly inter-connecting said piston-heads and having a notch formed therein, said piston heads and spindle assembly closing said pair of cylindrical cavities and deiining a chamber in said inner volume of said casing, and being adapted for sliding movement to and from two end positions, means for supplying said chamber with fluid under pressure, a port face formed in said chamber on one wall of said casing, a release port and a pair of passages formed in said port face, each passage communicating with said cylinder adjacent one of said ends respectively, a slide valve tted in said spindle notch for sliding movement in a direction parallel to said cylindrical cavities, said slide-valve engaging said port face and covering permanently said release por-t and connecting that passage which communicates with said cylinder adjacent one of said ends to said release port while uncovering to the inner space of said chamber the other passage communicating with the other one of said cylinder ends at each endmost position in which said slide-valve may be moved by said spindle, a rod formed with a head slidably engaging said axial bore of said piston-rod and retained therein by said shoulder, said headed rod extending coaxially in said cylinder with its head opposite to said shoulder and terminating on the opposite end with a shoulder-forming portion of greater diameter adapted to engage said other end of said pistonrod, said greater diameter being provided with a notched portion engaging said slide-valve sliding parallel to the axis of said pair of cylindrical cavities and sliding it normal to said axis, said notch being so disposed that sa-id piston at each endmost position of its stroke will position saidslide-valve to connect the passage communicating with one of said cylindrical cavities to said release port while uncovering to said chamber the other passagecommunicating with the other of said cylindrical cavities, and guide means ensuring the longitudinal alignment of said headed rod during the intermediate periods wherein said headed rod is driven longitudinally and in reciprocal other end to form a shoulder, partitions extending froml the other end of said cylinder and vforming a casing the inner volume of which is divided into two cylindrical cavities having a common axis intersecting at right angles the cylinder laxis, said cylindrical cavities being disposed symmetrically on either -side of the axis of said iirst cylinpiston-heads'each slidably mounted in one of said cylindrical cavities, a spindle rigidly interconnecting said pistonheads and having a notch formed therein, said pistonheads and spindle assembly closing said pair of cylindrical cavities and deiining a chamber in said inner volume of said casing, and being adapted for sliding movement to land .from two end positions, means for supplying said chamber with iiuid under pressure, a port face formed in said chamber on one wall of said casing, a release port and a pair of passages `formed in said port face, each passage communicating with said cylinder adjacent one of said ends respectively, a slide-valve fitted in said spindle notch for sliding movement in a direction parallel to said'- cylindrical cavities, said slide-valve engaging said port face and covering permanently said release port and connecting that passage which communicates with said cylinder adjacent one of said ends to said release port while uncovering to the inner space of said chamber the other passage communicating with the other one of said cylinder ends `at each endmost position in which said slidevalve may be moved by said spindle, a rod formed wi-th a head slidably engaging said axial bore of said pistonrod .and retained therein by said shoulder, said headed rod extending coaxially in said cylinder with its head opposite to said shoulder and terminating lwith a shoulderfor-ming portion of greater diameter adapted to engage said other end of said piston-rod said greater diameter being provided with a notched portion engaging said slide-valve sliding parallel to the axis of said pair of cylindrical cavities and sliding it parallel to the axis of said cylinder, said notch being so disposed that said piston at each endmost position of i-ts stroke will position said slide-valve to connect the passage communicating with one of said cylindrical cavities to said release port while uncovering to said chamber the other passage communicating with lthe other of said cylindrical cavities and terminating with an end located within said Aspace having its pressure equalized with that of said other cylinder end.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 997,616 Gates July l1, 1911 1,385,027 Van Fleck etal July 19, 1921 1,472,028 Sharp Oct. 23, 1923 

